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In Space, No One Can Hear You Roll Dice...

HyveMynd

Howdy Jackers,
It's been a long time since I stuck my head into the HJ's community to see what's up. Stuff's been busy and I don't have the spell slots to be involved in more than a few social media sites.

Anywho, have other people played or read the new-ish ALIEN RPG from Fria Ligan? The game is currently in pre-order and will be released some time toward the end of 2019, but there is a "starter set" PDF available (which you only get if you order the game). I've now been a player and a GM the included scenario (with different groups) and am very impressed with the presentation and mechanics of the game. I particularly like the stress mechanics.

So, anyone else looked at or played ALIEN yet?

EricfromNJ

HyveMynd No, but mostly due to lack of time. Getting into Forbidden Lands right now with uncommonman.

P.S. I miss you.

uncommonman

HyveMynd I've got no experience with the alien rpg but I have played and run a number of Free league games if you want to know more about the basic rules.

And I'm starting a Forbidden Lands game in a Discord server if you want to try the rules.

Ps. I also miss you on the Discord...

whodo

I've not ordered it so haven't read it but between watching parts of the Idle Red Hands AP and talking with @Fredrix at UKGE I'll admit I'm curious about it. It sounds like they've done well to incorporate a few styles of play in order to hew closer to the different tone of each movie. I'll probably pick up the quickstart if they ever do a general release but for now that's it unless I somehow get down to Dragon meet and demo it.

BattleMatt

I pre-ordered it and got the quick-start package.

I had really hoped they'd go for a lighter version of the Zero engine. Instead it feels like they piled more rules onto it. The game is much more about resource management than for example Coriolis (which uses the same rules engine). Gritty for sure, but for a horror game? Well... you might get suspense from your dwindling resources, but hardly horror.

It's a solid game from what I've seen, but I just I wish they'd taken a different approach to the subject. But they can't please everyone I suppose.

In terms of lore, since it's an officially licensed game, they are going with everything that is canon, including the stuff from the "prequel" films. The supplied starter adventure builds heavily upon that. Again, not to my liking, but you can always take away what you don't want in your games.

So I'm kinda disappointed. It didn't tickle my personal fancy. But Free League know how to make games, no question about it.

And I miss you too! 🙋

Fredrix

It’s not my favourite Free League game, but I think it might be my co-host Dave’s. Hell, what am I saying, of COURSE it’s my favourite, now that it has my name in the credits. But actually it makes me love the setting of Coriolis more. I have seen the core book (in proof, not final) and it looks lovely. Slightly disappointed that campaign mode isn’t currently as fleshed out as I hoped it would be, but I am aware of expansions in train that will do what I hoped for with campaigns.

And BattleMatt, speaking as a connoisseur of the Year Zero system, I can assure you that while not quite as simple as Tales from the Flood/Things from the Loop, it’s is otherwise the simplest of all the iterations. I think the resource dice are designed to force decisions that might not be tactical, but are definitely “stupid” 😀. And key to the whole game (and Dave and I have probably now run more sessions than most people) is don’t roll dice at all very often. If there is no risk of something horrible/dramatic happening, just let the players succeed...

ProbieTim

HyveMynd

The pre-order period might be over now @whodo, I'm not entirely sure. I was skeptical at first, but am very impressed with the game after a playthrough. There are two modes, Cinematic and Campaign, with the former meant to play like an ALIEN movie (like a one-shot) and the latter meant to play for an extended length of time. I think cinematic mode is really strong, but am somewhat doubtful of (the yet to be released) campaign mode. Thanks for watching our AP. <3

I started to read Forbidden Lands @EricfromNJ but decided it wasn't for me. Too rules heavy for my tastes. The ALIEN RPG seems to be a simpler version of what I saw in Forbidden Lands, but as I've not looked at other Zero Engine games I can't say. It's all relative and open to personal tastes, but the ALIEN RPG seems fairly rules-lite to me @BattleMatt.

I really like the resource management rules and feel they both increase tension and are appropriate for a horror game. Knowing your PC is in a hostile environment and watching your compression suit's air supply count down. Tracking something through the bowels of as the battery on your motion tracker gets weaker and weaker. That's some good shit.

As I mentioned above, I think the Cinematic Mode is really strong @Fredrix. It plays almost like a LARP and the secret Personal Agendas are fantastic. They encourage the players to make decisions for their PCs that, while not stupid, might not be the best given the situation. The stress mechanics and panic rolls do that too. They're my favorite part of the rules and why I think it's a great example of how games can use mechanics to reinforce mood and theme.

Run ALIEN in Savage Worlds? Hey @ProbieTim, I've got a present for you. holds an ovomorph up for you to look at 😉

I miss you all too. <3

whodo

HyveMynd Yeah I'm waiting to see if they do a general release of the quickstart at some point in the future in which case I'll pick it up. I might even watch the movies at some point as well, not seen any of them so my knowledge of the setting is all second hand / pop-culture. The AP was good, plus helped that the time zones aligned well enough that I could put it on in the background while at work.

uncommonman

HyveMynd the best part of the system is the push mechanic, re-roll for a larger change of successes and/or take damage or break your gear.

It really matters and brings a lot of tension to important rolls.

EricfromNJ

uncommonman Do you know if the Alien RPG has the same thing where the push mechanic also is the one thing that generates points to do the cool stuff?

uncommonman

Fredrix

EricfromNJ no, there is no willpower point or Mutant point economy in Alien. BUT every push earns you a stress die. So you get a higher chance of success, not just in the action you are pushing for, but every subsequent roll. Of course there are disadvantages. If any of those stress dice roll one, you panic. And the effects of your panic are made worse by the number of stress dice you have.

The “cool things” points don’t exist because no-one has cool powers that need to be rationed out, these are down and dirty gritty working joes we are playing.

In a cinematic game, there are “Story points” - complete your agenda in any act and you get one. It is worth one free success in any subsequent roll. AND it offers a sense of reward, if your character dies before the end ...

whodo

@Fredrix - Any idea if you'll be running demos of Alien at Dragonmeet later this year?

Fredrix

Free League did ask us to pencil in the date, when we were at UKGE with them, but in fact I emailed them, a couple of days ago to clarify exactly what they want us to do. You will be the first to know when I have an answer... or the second after Dave. And probably our Patrons...